Swans to pump game time into Buddy

Sydney has the chance to pump much needed game time into some of their stars and explore their forward line options in Sunday’s AFL away clash with St Kilda.

The Swans will be looking for a third straight win to tighten their grip on a top four spot.

They welcome back plenty of firepower for the Etihad Stadium encounter.

Forwards Lance Franklin and Gary Rohan are each scheduled to return this week along with prolific possession-getting midfielder Tom Mitchell.

Rohan has missed six of Sydney’s last seven games and Franklin five of the last eight.

“We can get some match fitness and conditioning into their legs, so the next couple of weeks will be critical for us,” Swans midfield coach Josh Francou told AAP.

It will be one of the few occasions this year Sydney coach John Longmire will be able to call upon virtually his full strength complement of forwards.

The only potential starter outside the senior team is midfielder-small forward Ben McGlynn, who makes his comeback in the reserves after playing just one of the last 11 senior fixtures due to a hamstring issue.

Franklin kicked nine goals in his last match against Saints.

The home team will be bolstered by the return of four players with a total of more than 600 senior games between them.

David Armitage, Dylan Roberton and two former Swans in Sean Dempster and the retiring Adam Schneider have all been recalled.

Much interest will centre on the ruck duel featuring two players of North American origin.

Sydney’s Canadian big man Mike Pyke goes up against the Saints’ American recruit Jason Holmes, who amassed 34 hitouts on debut in last week’s draw against Geelong.

“He can jump a bit and he’s got nice touch and he reads the ball pretty well,” Francou said of Holmes.

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